Stencil-drawing toy

ABSTRACT

A toy using a stencil having a plurality of composite stencil openings, each defining different features of predetermined composite designs. The stencil also includes means for guiding the overlaying of the openings in predetermined relationships to produce a desired design. The overlaying guidance may take the form of outlines on the stencil of completed designs not provided by the outlines of the openings. Also, irregularities such as tabs and notches in the outer edges of the stencil may be used for overlaying registration. Further, a frame having a stencil accepting aperture dimensioned to removably hold the stencil in a desired position while allowing rectilinear repositioning may be utilized. The frame and stencil may also include means including coded indexing positions for properly locating the stencil in the frame and for indicating which of the stencil openings are to be used.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Donald J. Maurer Torrance, Calif.

[21] Appl. No. 854,992

[22] Filed Sept. 3,1969

[45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [73] Assignee Mattel, Inc.

Hawthorne, Calif.

[5 4] STENCIL-DRAWING TOY 9 Claims, 16 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 35/26,

33/174 B [51] lnt.Cl B43l13/20 [50] Field of Search 35/26, 53,

37; 33/27 C, 27 K, 27 L, 174 B, l B; 273/157 R; l6/D1G. l3, DIG. 14

Primary Examinerl-larland S. Skogquist Attorney-Seymour A. Scholnick ABSTRACT: A toy using a stencil having a plurality of composite stencil openings, each defining different features of predetermined composite designs. The stencil also includes means for guiding the overlaying of the openings in predetermined relationships to produce a desired design. The overlaying guidance may take the form of outlines on the stencil of completed designs not provided by the outlines of the openings. Also, irregularities such as tabs and notches in the outer edges of the stencil may be used for overlaying registration. Further, a frame having a stencil accepting aperture dimensioned to removably hold the stencil in a desired position while allowing rectilinear repositioning may be utilized. The frame and stencil may also include means including coded 'indexing positions for properly locating the stencil in the frame and for indicating which of the stencil openings are to v be used.

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alssalzae PATENIEU Jan I an SHEET 2 BF 4 if! 365 3&3 W a rig PATENIEDQANI 1 1912 31633286 SHEET R UF 4 m/ww me 004 /10 ,T IW/WIRFA Mam 1 STENCIL-DRAWING TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The background of the invention will be set forth in two arts.

1. Field Of The Invention The present invention pertains generally to the field of drawing devices and more particularly to devices for constructing composite designs such as pictures, symbols and the like, by use of templates or stencils having selected openings therein of predetermined shape.

2. Description Of The Prior Art Mechanical arrangements adapted to aid in the construction of drawings, patterns and designs are well known in the art. For example, drafting machine attachments for movably holding templates over a work area have been in use for many years. These attachments allow the user to move a template about a surface while maintaining the template in a parallel or a predetermined angular relationship.

The prior art also includes drawing kits comprising template holding frames in which templates have various shaped openings which are rotatably disposed. By rotating the templates, desired openings can be brought into place and their outlines traced with a pencil to produce regular geometric figures and other designs.

Still another example of the prior art is a frame wherein a movable crossmember can be positioned in accordance with a pattern card and coding along the edges of the frame. The crossmember also has coded notches in which a marking instrument is inserted, also in accordance with the pattern card, in order to produce a predetermined pattern of markings on a surface.

The first two examples of the art do not provide a means to construct prearranged designs or to duplicate designs .extemporaneously produced. While in the last-described example a pattern can be duplicated and a prearranged pattern followed, a template is not used and it is very difficult if not impossible to visualize in advance what the final result will look like. It would therefore take a skilled person to produce an extemporaneous design using this technique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing factors and conditions charac teristic of prior art devices, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved device for making composite designs not subject to the disadvantages enumerated above and having a structure wherein one or more templates may be selectively positioned over a work area to easily construct prearranged designs, pictures and drawings of all descriptions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device for making composite designs that does not require a high degree of skill in order to extemporaneously initiate and modify designs.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described wherein simple-to-follow coding and outline indicia are provided to identify openings in the templates having desired shapes or outlines.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for making composite designs wherein stencils or templates may be accurately positioned so that pictures may be drawn by either positioning a number of different stencils or templates or by indexing a single stencil or template to create a multidesign effect.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for making composite designs wherein the templates are firmly pressed against the work surface by the construction of a template holding frame and the template in order to minimize the likelihood that a childs pencil will slip under the template and degrade the constructed design.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a device of the type described in which the drawing paper is held firmly in place between a hinged frame having a template accepting aperture and a base member so that the paper can easily be replaced.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a device for making composite designs wherein drawing paper is placed on a metal plate and a frame having magnets therein is placed over the paper to hold it in place while the designs are being constructed thereon.

According to the present invention a stencil-drawing toy for making composite designs comprises a stencil having a plurality of composite stencil openings, each of the openings defining different features of predetermined composite designs. Registration means is incorporated with the stencil for guiding the overlaying of the openings in predetermined relationships to produce a desired design.

The registration means may include indicia, such as outlines and stencil edge irregularities, to identify those of the openings which are to be utilized to produce a predetermined completed design.

The invention may also comprise frame means for positioning about a surface upon which the composite design is to be constructed, the frame means including a stencil accepting aperture having dimensions to removably hold the stencil in a desired position while allowing rectilinear repositioning of the stencil in the aperture.

The frame means may take the form of a flat frame having a rectangular opening therein which has one dimension the same as that of a stencil or template to be used and which has another dimension larger than that of the corresponding template so that the template may be moved only rectilinearly in the aperture.

The frame means may also include a plurality of individually coded notches along one or more of its sides for registration with a single conforming tab on a suitable template, or, the notches may be provided in the template and the conforming tab in the frame, or a combination of these.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention and specific embodiments thereof will be described hereinafter by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements or parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a stencil-drawing toy constructed according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toy for making composite designs according to an embodiment of the invention wherein a frame is utilized;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention wherein the stencil moves horizontally and the stencil-holding frame moves vertically;

FIG. 5, A, B and C illustrate typical sequential steps in constructing a drawing utilizing the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the template of FIG. 4 taken along line 6-6;

FIG. 7 illustrates a template having indexing locating tabs along each of its sides;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a device for making composite designs according to still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view partially broken away of the device of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a plan view partially broken away of an embodiment of the invention in which magnetic catches are utilized;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view also partially broken away of the device of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the template holding frame has magnetic inserts and is positionable anywhere on the formed sheet metal drawing board;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the formed sheet metal drawing board of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a set of corresponding templates can be used individually to produce a predetermined drawing or composite portions from each can be combined to produce a completed drawing designed by the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring again to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a stencil-drawing toy for making composite designs constituting a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designated 11, is shown to include a stencil or template 13 having openings 15 therein of predetermined shapes defining different features of predetermined composite designs. The stencil or template 13 may preferably be fabricated from sheet transparent colored acetate, and die cut. The template 13 is generally rectangular or square and is shown in this figure, as having a first outer edge 17, a second outer edge 19, a third outer edge 21, and a fourth outer edge 23.

In order to aid the user in obtaining proper registration between the various openings 15 so as to produce an airplane, for example, the stencil or template 13 is provided with either printed or molded outlines of the completed airplane which is shown in the figure by dashed lines 25. As an additional or as an alternate aid to obtain registration, the outer edges of the template 13 may include irregularities such as a notch 27 or a plurality of these notches, or such as tabs 29, a single tab 29, or any combination of notches and tabs. By following the peripheral edges of the upper openings 15A with a drawing instrument such as a pen or pencil, for example, and then by moving the template 13 so that the dashed outlines 25 adjacent the lower openings 15B coincide with the previously drawn lines, the peripheral edges of the openings 15B may be followed to provide the major portions of the sketch and to complete the drawing. Also, the outlines may be viewed with the template aside the drawing to add features not practical, because of their small size, to be aided by template openings.

If the various template composite openings are furnished on two or more difierent templates, the user will use an erasable instrument, such as a pencil, to follow the periphery of the edge 17 and/or the edge 21 with their notch and tabs for purposes of registration for later used templates. Further, notches 31a and 32b or tabs 33a and 3312 may be provided along the side edges 19 and 23 for the required registration of the composite portions of a single template, such as template 13. To use this type of registration, at the same time the user followed lines 15A with a drawing instrument, he would also follow the side edges 19 and 23 with an erasable instrument. Upon completing lines 15A, he would then make a linear transfer of the stencil to a second position wherein tab 33b and notch 31b occupy the corresponding drawn shapes made by tab 33a and notch 31a. Line 158 may then be followed and a completed picture will result which would be the composite of stencil portion 15A and 15B. The erasure time used for registration could then be removed.

It should be realized that although the stencil portions (openings) are separately shown in this figure, the composite stencil portions may run into each other to conserve space. In order to identify which portion to follow in a particular registration position, the perimeter of each section to be followed in a particular registration position can be coded by a distinct color or marking such as depicted in FIG. 14.

With reference now to another embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 shows a template 113 with openings 115 and indexing locator notches 1 17 along an edge 119 is movably held in a rectangular aperture 121 of a flat frame 123, the width dimension of the aperture 121 being the same as that of the template 113. However, the length dimension of the aperture 121 is larger than the corresponding template dimension in order to allow the template to be moved in a rectilinear direction along the length dimension of the frame 123. Along the inner edge of the frame adjacent the notched edge 119 of the template 113 is an indexing locator tab 125 conforming in shape to the notches 117 so that the template 113 may be held in one of several positions corresponding to whichever of the notches 117 is positioned about the tab.125.

Each of the openings 115 is provided with coding indicia which may take any of many forms such as color coding about the periphery of the openings, for example. As one alternative, symbols 127 may be die cut into the stencil 113 adjacent selected ones of the openings 115 as seen in FIG. 2, for example. Also, each of the notches 117 is provided with a single symbol 127 different from the other notch identifying symbols and corresponding to the symbols 127 identifying the openings 115. Thus, one notch 117 may have a diamond sym bol, the next notch is square, the next a circle and the next an ellipsoid. Although each notch 117 has a different symbol 127, one or more openings 115 may have the same coding indicia corresponding to the coding of one of the notches 117. The reason for this provision is so that the template 113 may be positioned within the aperture 121 of the frame 123 in relation to the indexing coding wherein predetermined composite designs may be obtained by outlining a number of openings having the same coding indicia as that of each coding symbol as selected by placing the indexing locator notch 125 in a selected one of the notches 117.

Although the notches have been shown disposed in the template in FIG. 2, the notches and the corresponding locator tab may be transposed as seen in FIG. 3. Here, an embodiment designated 151 includes a frame 153 having a rectangular aperture 155 therein and indexing locator notches 157, each with different coding symbols 159. In this embodiment, notches 157 are disposed along opposite ones of its sidewalls 167 to register in corresponding opposite ones of the notches 157. The addition of a second set of notches and a locator tab in this embodiment possibly provides more template stability than embodiments having registration only along one adjacent side. The frame members 123 and 153 may be molded from a synthetic material and should be stiff enough to securely hold the template and maintain proper template registration during use.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 and designated generally by the arrow 201. A template 203 is shown repositionable in the dimension 205 parallel to the width dimension of a frame 207, and the frame 207 is repositionable in the direction 209, parallel to the length dimension of a drawing board 211 which is made of a suitable material such as for example plastic or wood. The template 203 includes an indexing locator tab 213 shown projecting into and held by a selected one of the indexing locator notches 215. Each of the notches 215 is identified by different color coding (not shown) and openings 217 in the template 203 are similarly provided with color codings (not shown) about their peripheries. As described previously, one or more openings may have thesame coding that corresponds to one of the indexing notches, while other openings may have coding corresponding to other notches.

The template 203 is adapted to be seated in a rectangular aperture 221 of the frame 207, and the frame 207 is provided with pins 223 to register with appropriate holes 225 in the drawing board 211. In this manner, the frame 207 may be moved up or down in the direction 209 over a piece of drawing material such as paper that is securely held in place on the surface of the board 211 by a conventional clip 229.

In operation, a composite design or figure may be constructed by referring to a set of instructions (not shown) wherein a set of sequential steps are related to the user. The instructions will provide information as to which of several templates to use and which of the openings to utilize by coding designations. Thus, once a desired design is selected, a designated template or stencil is placed in the frame so that a designated coding is registered by placing the indexing locator tab in an appropriately coded notch. As an example, if a template designated A is first indicated in the instructions for the construction of a figure resembling a Santa Claus and a red color coding as the first step, the A" template is placed in the frame aperture 221 so that the tab 213 is in the red color coded notch 215. Then the outline of only those openings 217 having a red color coding are traced to provide the partial sketch as shown in FIG. 5A. Next, the instructions may require that the green template coding be used and the template is lifted from its first position and moved so that the tab 213 now resides in the green-coded notch 215 and the green outlined openings traced to provide the partial sketch seen in FIG. 5B. As a last step, the instructions may indicate a frame 207 position as exposing four-locating holes 225 above the frame. The frame and template are then moved to the designated positions and the proper template openings traced to provide the finished figure shown in FIG. 5C. In the case of the two embodiments 111 and 151 above described, of course the instructions would only provide for the selection of designated templates and template coding and not to frame positioning with respect to a drawing board. It should also be understood that a single template can be used to construct a complete design and that several templates may be required for-other designs. Further, a single template may be used to produce more than one design or drawing.

The various template openings are easily recognized as related to different portions or types of parts of a completed design and many variations of the design described in the instructions may be made by the user. For example, frowning features of a face designated generally by arrow 251 in FIG. 2, may be substituted for the smiling features 253. It should be further understood that the instructions may describe alternative features and parts to be utilized in order to obtain the complete picture desired by the user.

The templates 113 and 163 of FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, are flat plates held against the surface upon which the design is to be constructed. The necessity for this contact is to insure that the users drawing instrument, such as a pen or pencil, is not accidentally forced under the template to degrade the construction. In order to provide a self-holding feature, a template and frame arrangement illustrated in FIG. 4 and in more detail in FIG. 6, may be used. This advantageous feature is characterized by an interference fit provided between the adjacent portions of the template 203 and the frame 207. The template 203 includes a lower template wall 269 and an upstanding, encompassing sidewall 271 surrounded by a peripheral flange 273 having the indexing-locator 213 provided thereon. The frame 207 includes a lower wall portion 275 and a vertical wall portion 277 having an inner surface 279. Thus, the template 203 is placed in the fixture or frame 207 on top of a sheet of paper 227 supported by the drawing board 211. The template 203 fits the inner wall 279 of the frame 207 with an interference fit so that the template will be flexed to the position shown in FIG. 6 wherein the sidewall 271 is bowed in such a manner that the lower template wall 169 is firmly pressed against the paper 227. This interference fit feature may be used in all embodiments of the invention in order to provide firm engagement of the lower wall of the template and the drawing surface so that the likelihood that a childs pencil will slip under the template is minimized.

As mentioned previously, the template may have any rectangular shape but if it is square, then the template may be provided with locating tabs on adjacent sides thereof to allow the placement of the template in any of two possible relationships with respect to the frame. Such a configuration is shown in FIG. 7, where a template 301 has openings 303 in a lower associated templates or stencils disclosed in previously described embodiments, except for the hinge feature and a pair of pin-receiving apertures 359 disposed along the edge 361 opposite the hinge 357.

In this embodiment, a piece of paper 363 is inserted between the frame 353 and the board 355 while the frame 353 is in its raised or open position as illustrated in FIG. 9. Where prepunched paper is used, the holes in the paper will fit over a pair of spaced guide and holding pins 365 mounted, by any suitable means such as an adhesive, adjacent an edge 367 of the board 355 opposite the hinge 357. The pins 365 are in line with associated ones of the apertures 359 in the frame 353 and have an outside diameter relationship to the diameter of the apertures 359 to provide a friction fit for purposes of holding the frame 353 and paper 363 against the board 365 when the frame is forced downward to its closed position. If unpunched paper is to be used, the same procedure is followed except the paper will be punched by the action of the pins 365 and a cooperating aperture 359 when the frame is closed.

The advantage of using a frame that is held in contact with a drawing board is twofold. First, there will be less chance of the frame being accidentally moved once the construction of the desired design has been initiated; and secondly; maximum benefits of the interference fit feature described in relation to FIGS. 4 and 6 will be obtained.

Another such advantageous configuration identified by numerals 501 is seen in FIGS. 10 and 11. Here, a frame-template assembly 403 is hingedly attached to a drawing board 405 along a common edge 407 by preferably a living hinge 409. Although an integral hinge has been specified, it should be understood that any suitable hinge performing in a similar function may be substituted for the one described. From the drawings it can be seen that the basic difference between this embodiment and the one referred to immediately above, is that here the pins and associated apertures have been replaced by conventional permanent magnets 411 imbedded in the board 405 and metal plates 413 of suitable characteristics imbedded in the frame assembly 403. In accordance with this embodiment, paper 415 need not be prepunched and will not be punched by the closing of the frame assembly 403 upon the board 405. The action of the hinge 409 and the strong mag netic attraction between the metal plates 413 and the magnet 411 will hold the frame assembly 403 and the paper 415 firmly against the board 405.

With reference to yet another embodiment as disclosed in FIGS. 12 and 13, a device 451 for making composite designs is shown to include a formed sheet metal drawing board 452 having a broad, flat surface 455, a relatively short vertical front section 457, and a relatively longer vertical rear section 459. The board 453 may also include a front flange portion 461 extending horizontally from the lower edge of the front section 457, and a rear flange portion 463 extending horizontally from the lower edge of the rear section 459. Where it is desired to prevent accidental marring of a surface 465 upon which the device 451 is to be placed, appropriate rubber or plastic feet 467 may be mounted on these flange portions in a conventional manner through holes (not shown) drilled or punched in the flanges.

A frame-template assembly 469, including conventional permanent magnets 471 disposed in the frame portion 473, may be movably positioned on the surface 455, as shown in FIG. 12, or in any desired position, as illustrated by the dashed outlines 475 and 477. This embodiment gives great latitude in the positioning of various designs on a piece of drawing paper 479 held to the surface 455 by any conventional means such as adhesive-type tape 481.

In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, provision is made whereby a single template with a plurality of composite stencil portions each corresponding to a difierent registration position can be utilized as heretofore described in making a complete predetermined drawing, or

portions from additional corresponding templates whereby the user can control or design the outcome or the completed picture. To accomplish this, a plurality of corresponding templates or stencils generally indicated at 490, 491 and 492 respectively in FIG. 14 are provided. Template 490 includes a plurality of composite stencil portions which when followed by a drawing instrument in their respective predetermined registration positions, will complete a drawing of the airplane generally indicated at 490D. In a similar manner, templates 491 and 492 will produce aircrafts 491D and 492D respectively.

Still referring'to FIG. 14, it is seen that each template 490, 491 and 492 can be divided into three sections which with reference to template 490 would be section 490A containing all stencil openings relating to the nose of the airplane, section 4908 containing all stencil openings relating to the fuselage and wing and section 490C containing all stencil openings relating to the tail. The reference letters A, B and C are similarly used to designate the three sections of templates 491 and 492.

In order to carry out the present invention, the three templates 490, 491 and 492 are designed to correspond whereby a section from any one of these templates can be combined with the remaining two sections from either one or both of the other two templates to produce a completed and properly related drawing. For example, if templates 490, 491 and 492 are successively placed on the same portion of paper with the stencil opening in the respective sections 490A, 491B and 492C being followed in each of their three respective registration positions, the futuristic airplane indicated at 495 will be drawn. It will readily be appreciated by those skilledin the art that the three sections A, B and C in each of the three templates 490, 491 and 492 enable a user to draw any one of 27 different airplane combinations. It will be further appreciated that while for illustrative purposes three corresponding airplane templates were depicted, any number of corresponding templates containing any number of sections may be provided for any type of subject matter such as animals, automobiles or the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Still referring to FIG. 14, in order to code the composite portions of each template, all the stencil openings of each composite portion can be outlined in a color different from that used to outline the stencil openings in the adjacent portions, and in order to differentiate the A, B and C sections within each template, the colored outlines can be broken up into a different pattern for each said section.

From the foregoing, it should be clear that there has been described an advantageous device that can be used by trained and skilled artists as well as untrained persons such as children to accurately draw detailed sketches and designs with or without the use of instructions. The invention as described herein includes templates having registration means such as outlines and edge irregularities and the use of coding indicia relating selected template openings and template positioning as governed by indexing locator arrangements between the template-holding frame and the template so as to, for example, permit overlaying of openings in the same template and/or the use of more than one template in combination to produce a drawing or design or a variety of designs using the same template.

Also described has been a novel technique for locking a drawing template or stencil in a frame or fixture by an interference fit between the template and the frame so as to allow the accurate location of templates and to assure that overlays will accurately register with each other to obtain a desired composite drawing. This feature further has the advantage of firmly holding the template against the drawing surface so that positive reproduction of the template openings is obtainable.

It should be pointed out that while the exemplary embodiments herein described contemplate that a drawing instrument such as a pencil, pen, stylus, crayon or the like be used in following the template openings, a remotely located drawing instrument could also be used in accordance with the instant invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. An example of remotely located drawing instruments would be a pantograph of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,543,998 and it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art" that the tracing point 76 of this patent could be emplayed to follow the composite template portions of the in-- stant invention when properly registered to produce a larger, equal or smaller size composite picture at a location remote from the template.

Although specific materials have been mentioned, it should be understood that other materials having similar characteristics may be substituted therefor, and although several specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, other organizations of the embodiments shown may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention. It should be clearly understood that the terms templates and stencils are used interchangeably and where one is specified, the other may be used.

Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing disclosure and drawings shall be considered only as illustrations of the principles of this invention and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is to be defined by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A stencil-drawing toy for making composite designs, comprising: I

a stencil having a plurality of stencil portions, each of said portions having at least one opening and defining different composite parts of predetermined designs;

registration means incorporated with said stencil for successively positioning each said portion in a predetermined relationship to produce a desired design, said registration means being in the form of an indexing-locater tab on one outer edge of said stencil and an indexing-locater notch on the opposite outer edge of said stencil.

2. A stencil having a plurality of spaced apart openings for cooperating to form a complete drawing when said stencil is moved in a predetermined manner comprisingi a relatively flat lower surface in which said openings are disposed;

a sidewall integral with said lower surface and projecting away from said lower surface; and

a peripheral flange integral with said sidewall and disposed generally parallel to said lower surface, said flange for cooperating with means for engaging and locating said stencil relative a surface to be drawn upon.

3. A stencil as claimed'in claim 2, wherein said sidewall is flexible so as to form a biasing force on said flange to retain said stencil relative said engaging and locating means.

4. A stencil as claimed in claim 3, wherein said flange includes a projecting tab for engaging selectively a corresponding notch of said engaging and locating means.

5. A stencil as claimed in claim 4, wherein said flange includes a notch oppositely disposed from said tab for receiving a tab of said engaging and locating means.

6. A device for making composite designs, comprising:

a stencil having a plurality of openings therein defining different features of a predetermined composite design, each of said openings being identified by coding indicia, said stencil having a relatively flat lower surface in which said openings are disposed, said stencil also having an upstanding encompassing sidewall surrounded by a peripheral flange;

frame means for positioning about a surface upon which a drawing is to be constructed, said frame means including a stencil accepting aperture having dimensions to removably hold said plate in a desired position while allowing rectilinear repositioning of said stencil in said aperture, said frame means including a lower wall portion and a vertical wall portion with an inner surface whereby an interference fit is provided between said inner surface of said vertical wall portion and said peripheral flange of said stencil; and

stencil locating means at adjacent portions of said stencil and said frame means and including individually coded indexing positions corresponding to selected one of the coding indicia of said openings for positioning said stencil in relation to selected designs whereby said predetermined composite design may be obtained by combining a number of said openings having the same coding indicia. 7. A device according to claim 6, including a drawing board with a relatively flat drawing surface upon which a piece of drawing paper may be positioned, said interference fit causing said lower surface of said stencil to be firmly pressed against said paper and said drawing surface.

8. Toy apparatus for guiding a stencil relative a surface upon which a drawing is to be made comprising:

a base for receiving said surface upon which a drawing is to be made; a frame pivotally connected to said base and movable relative said base between open and closed positions, said frame having an opening to receive said stencil, and said frame including a tab and a notch, said tab and notch being oppositely disposed across said opening and adapted to engage and receive respectively a notch and a tab of a stencil for locating in a rectilinear fashion said stencil in a plurality of positions; and

means connected to said base and said frame for engaging said surface on which a drawing is to be made.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, including a hinge integrally connected to said frame and connected to said base for pivotally connecting said frame and base; and wherein said surface engaging means comprises a permanent magnet and a metal piece disposed in corresponding positions on said frame and said base whereby magnetic engagement is achieved when said frame and base are in a closed position. 

1. A stencil-drawing toy for making composite designs, comprising: a stencil having a plurality of stencil portions, each of said portions having at least one opening and defining different composite parts of predetermined designs; registration means incorporated with said stencil for successively positioning each said portion in a predetermined relationship to produce a desired design, said registration means being in the form of an indexing-locater tab on one outer edge of said stencil and an indexing-locater notch on the opposite outer edge of said stencil.
 2. A stencil having a plurality of spaced apart openings for cooperating to form a complete drawing when said stencil is moved in a predetermined manner comprising: a relatively flat lower surface in which said openings are disposed; a sidewall integral with said lower surface and projecting away from said lower surface; and a peripheral flange integral with said sidewall and disposed generally parallel to said lower surface, said flange for cooperating with means for engaging and locating said stencil relative a surface to be drawn upon.
 3. A stencil as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sidewall is flexible so as to form a biasing force on said flange to retain said stencil relative said engaging and locating means.
 4. A stencil as claimed in claim 3, wherein said flange includes a projecting tab for engaging selectively a corresponding notch of said engaging and locating means.
 5. A stencil as claimed in claim 4, wherein said flange includes a notch oppositely disposed from said tab for receiving a tab of said engaging and locating means.
 6. A device for making composite designs, comprising: a stencil having a plurality of openings therein defining different features of a predetermined composite design, each of said openings being identified by coding indicia, said stencil having a relatively flat lower surface in which said openings are disposed, said stencil also having an upstanding encompassing sidewall surrounded by a peripheral flange; frame means for positioning about a surface upon which a drawing is to be constructed, said frame means including a stencil accepting aperture having dimensions to removably hold said plate in a desired position while allowing rectilinear repositioning of said stencil in said aperture, said frame means including a lower wall portion and a vertical wall portion with an inner surface whereby an interference fit is provided between said inner surface of said vertical wall portion and said peripheral flange of said stencil; and stencil locating means at adjacent portions of said stencil and said frame means and including individually coded indexing positions corresponding to selected one of the coding indicia of said openings for positioning said stencil in relation to selected designs whereby said predetermined composite design may be obtained by combining a number of said openings having the same coding indicia.
 7. A device according to claim 6, including a drawing board with a relatively flat drawing surface upon which a piece of drawing paper may be positioned, said interference fit causing said lower surface of said stencil to be firmly pressed against said paper and said drawing surface.
 8. Toy apparatus for guiding a stencil relative a surface upon which a drawing is to be made comprising: a base for receiving said surface upon which a drawing is to be made; a frame pivotally connected to said base and movable relative said base between open and closed positions, said frame having an opening to receIve said stencil, and said frame including a tab and a notch, said tab and notch being oppositely disposed across said opening and adapted to engage and receive respectively a notch and a tab of a stencil for locating in a rectilinear fashion said stencil in a plurality of positions; and means connected to said base and said frame for engaging said surface on which a drawing is to be made.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, including a hinge integrally connected to said frame and connected to said base for pivotally connecting said frame and base; and wherein said surface engaging means comprises a permanent magnet and a metal piece disposed in corresponding positions on said frame and said base whereby magnetic engagement is achieved when said frame and base are in a closed position. 